LA HABRA, Calif. — Joseph P. Szczesiul, 95, of La Habra, Calif., passed away on Feb. 26, 2014 with his beloved daughters by his side. He was born in Akron, Ohio, June 28, 1918, the son of Frank Szczesiul and Pauline Blecharczyl.
He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years Leokadia Ziolkowski and his son Thomas Szczesiul.
Joseph was a graduate of St. Hedwig School and Naugatuck High School. Joseph retired from Beckman Institute in California where he worked as an assistant engineer for over 25 years.
He is survived by two daughters, Cynthia Furman and her husband Don of Fullerton, Calif., and Lori Armstrong and her husband Jim of LaMirada, Calif.; three sisters, Bernice Pruchnicki of Waterbury, Conn., Cecelia Humphries of Naugatuck, Conn., and Rita Starziski and her husband Charles of Naugatuck, Conn.; one brother, Frank J. Szczesiul of Naugatuck., Conn. He was also predeceased by two brothers, Stanley Szczesiul and Rudolph Szczesiul.
Joseph was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren and great-grandfather to four.
His burial will be in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Rowland Heights, Calif., on Thursday, March 6, after a mass to celebrate his life at 10:30 a.m. A memorial mass in his honor will be celebrated at St. Hedwig’s Church, Golden Hill Street, Naugatuck, on May 2 at 9 a.m.
Joseph’s favorite charity was St. Jude Children’s Hospital in California.